“Therefore, there should not be any change in the international flights,” a release from the chief minister’s office quoted Patnaik as having told Raju.

In a bid to attract tourists to Buddhist sites in the state, Patnaik also requested the Union minister to make flying provision from Bhubanewar to Delhi via Varanasi.

The two also discussed a proposed airport at Jeypore in Koraput district, the release said.

Earlier, while attending a Parliamentary Consultative Committee meeting of the Civil Aviation ministry, Raju had said that the Centre will consider Odisha’s proposal if it submitted the wishlist for a flying training institute.